[Nosocomial infections in Germany. What are the numbers, based on the estimates for 2006?]

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess data about the annual incidence in Germany of nosocomial infections, the mortality attributable to these infections and the number of nosocomial infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Method: The data of the German Annual Statistical Report 2006, the national prevalence study NIDEP1, the German national nosocomial infections surveillance system (KISS) and a study to investigate the attributable mortality of nosocomial infections, based on the NIDEP2-study, were used to estimate the incidence for 2006.

Results: The annual number of nosocomial infections estimated for 2006 is between 400,000 and 600,000, the mortality attributable to them between 10,000 and 15,000 patients and the number of nosocomial MRSA infections about 14,000.

Discussion: These estimates have several limitations. But It would be possible to provide a more precise estimate of the current situation from a new national cross sectional study.